Magda Szubanski slammed online after she weighs in on the Voice to Parliament and a photo of her doing blackface resurfaces
Magda Szubanski has come under fire after a photo of her doing blackface in the early days of her career surfaced online.
The 62-year-old comedian was blasted on social media after voicing her support for Indigenous Voice in parliament, highlighting how the historic mistreatment of Aboriginal people has deep roots in the country’s legal framework.
In her social media posts, the comedian criticized the Australian government’s mistreatment of Indigenous people, citing Howard’s 2007 intervention, which implemented measures including income management and alcohol restrictions in some Indigenous communities.
“I read the Constitution and the history of the amendments this weekend,” Magda stated.
“Race has always been involved. That is still the case. The Australian government has always messed with the Aboriginal people. This is how Howard’s intervention was possible.’
She pointed to section 51 of the Constitution, which gives the Australian government the power to make special laws for people of any race.
But The Voice detractors were quick to call out Magda, sharing a photo of the star performing blackface.
Blackface has traditionally been used to mock, objectify, and ridicule African Americans and to unfavorably caricature people of color.
‘Who are you to comment on race? Magda Szubankski, you have got to be kidding me,” claimed a No voter.
“You don’t care about anyone but yourself. People are in danger of being put on a list! Bullying the no voters and lying through your teeth as usual.’
Szubanski hit back with a screenshot of the woman’s tweet, claiming she had “apologized wholeheartedly” and learned from the incident.
“Okay, so I have sincerely apologized for doing blackface on previous occasions. You choose to ignore that,” Szubanski wrote.
‘I also chose to learn. You also chose to ignore that. You’ve had it.
‘I’m blocking you now because you don’t listen and are boring. But I have a screenshot of your comments. Day.’
A social media user criticized the comedian for instructing people to take screenshots of all the “lies” shared by No Voters by sharing a photo of her doing blackface, and claimed that Szubanski should not be allowed to comment on race (photo )
Many Aussies were quick to defend Kath and Kim’s star.
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford shared the post, claiming that Australians who bring up Szubanski about blackface should ‘move on’.
“She’s right, it was 36 years ago, and she certainly wasn’t the only one who did it. Move on,” Ford wrote.
‘Bringing out that 35-year-old photo is such an exhausting comeback. Plus, everyone seems to think they’re the first to do it. The ‘gotcha’ value disappeared years ago.”
Magda Szubanski appeared on ABC’s The Drum and spoke about the blackface she did during her early comedy career, explaining that the Voice debate helped her undergo a “consciousness shift.”
The Kath and Kim star wrote that she “heartily apologized” for doing blackface and has learned from it before blocking the person who shared the photo (pictured)
“Magda, I’m Aboriginal, if anyone would be angry about this skit it would be me. I am not. I’ve heard you apologize for it many times. I accepted your apology. Don’t give these fools any time. They’re not worth it,” one person commented.
“While I don’t agree with your position on The Voice, I think it’s a shame that people keep putting out this comedy sketch as some sort of gotchya moment. You have recognized the cultural significance. It’s all you can do,” someone else wrote.
A third person added: “When you know better. You do better. Words I live by Different tenses. And yes, a sincere apology counts.”
A fourth person said, “I strongly disagree with you on the Voice, and I really hate the divisiveness you’re showing, but your comedy sketch needs no apology. Not really. Comedians cannot be held accountable by a standard set after their work airs.”
Szubanski also explained on ABC’s The Drum on Monday night that the referendum debate helped her bring about a “change in consciousness.”
“It’s an extremely vulnerable moment, and if we can just try to take the heat out of it, and be aware of that, but I also really hope that this is a change in consciousness.
“I know it’s been for me. A learning process, a change in consciousness. I mean, I’m someone who has gone from wearing blackface in the 1990s to having a completely different perspective now.
“That’s the hope that I’m sure we all have that people like me, who come from a position of ignorance, can learn.”
Szubanski has joined a slew of Australian celebrities who have indicated they will vote ‘Yes’ in the October 14 referendum for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament
Despite celebrities like Magda calling for a ‘Yes’ vote, support for the ‘Yes’ campaign has fallen to its lowest level yet, according to a new poll.
Just over a third of Australians (36 percent) say they will vote ‘Yes’ to the Voice to Parliament, according to the Newspoll survey of 1,239 voters for The Australian.
It marks a drop of two points in the past three weeks – the lowest level yet for the beleaguered Yes campaign.
Meanwhile, opposition to the historic referendum has risen slightly to 56 percent, with less than three weeks until election day.
The shift to No is happening across most age groups and demographics, but most are among women and younger voters who previously were the strongest proponents of the Vote.